Collapsible tray or box



Nov. 22, 1949 K. 'r. BUTTERY ETAL 2,488,706

COLLAPSIBLE TRAY OR BOX Filed Sept. 10, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V ENTOR-5 Zwa/w (576/7 7 a f/o/way Nov. 22, 1949 K. T. BUTTERY ET ALCOLLAPSIBLE TRAY OR BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 10, 1948 Patented"01.22, 1949 FF-lCE- COLLAPSIBLE TRAY R BOX 7 and Richard C. Stenger,

Kenneth T. Buttery Kalamazoo, Mich.,

assignors to Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Sutherland Application September 10, 1948, Serial No. 48.667

1 came. ((31. 229-35) 1 v This invention relates to improvements in acollapsible tray or box.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blankand one which may be quickly and easily erected and one which whenerected the walls are effectively interlocked and supported againstbulging and collapsing stresses.

Second. to provide a tray or box formed of an integral blank which maybe shipped or transported in the knock-down and quickly set up by handor by an erecting machine and one which when set up is strong and rigideven when formed of relatively light stock.

Objects relating to details and economies of the inventionwill appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in theclaims. I

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tray or box em-, bodying our inventionfully erected.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section illustrating oneof the stages in erecting the tray or box.

stage.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a succeeding Fig. 4 is an enlargedfragmentary interior view of one corner of the tray 0r box.

Fig. 5'is an enlarged fragmentary plan view.

Fig. 6 is a planview of the blank.

The collapsible tray, box or carton of our invention is an adaptation ofand in some respects an improvement upon the collapsible tray or boxillustrated in the Buttery application for Patent No. 638,165, fliedDecember 29, 1945. 1

Our improved collapsible tray, box or carton is formed of an integralblank. that shown in Fig. 6 being the blank from which the structureshown in Fig. 1 is formed. The structurecomprises a bottom I, side walls2-2 and walls 3-3 hingedly connected to the bottom along the scorelines, conventionally shown at l in Fig. 6. The end walls are providedwith comer naps I hingedly connected to the ends thereof as by scoringat 6.

In the embodiment illustrated the end walls and their flaps aresubstantially wider than the side walls, one purpose being to provide atray or carton having sides of reduced width to more effectively displaythe contents when a transparent wrapper is arranged about the tray orbox after the contents have been inserted therein. The bottom edges ofthe corner'flaps are in subflectable parts If.

elongated tongues 'stantial alignment with the hingin'g score t con-.gularly relative to the inner portions 9, and outer portions lldisposed angularly relative to the inner portions 9, and outer portionsll disposed angularly relative to the intermediate Iportions It. Thisfacilitates the entrance of the bottom edges of the corner flaps intothe slits with a general camming movement or engagement of the bottomedges of the corner flapsi with the lower edges of the slits 1. Theportions of the side walls at the outer sides of the slits 1 form de-The corner flaps have outwardl inclined slits it opening to their sideedges and slits ll extending vertically from the inner ends of the slitsll. This provides the comer flaps lwith upwardly projecting relativelyshort tongues l5 engageable with the upper edges of the slits 1 when thetray is erected and downwardly directed it engageable over the upperedges of the side walls to depend within the side walls as is clearlyshown in the drawing. when the tray or carton is fully erected the inneror bottom edges of thecomer flaps rest on the bottom with the end wallsengaging the and edges of the side walls the-tongues l5 engage the upperedge of the slits while the tongues I6 engage over the upper edgesof theside walls and depend within the side walls. This results in a veryeffective interlocking of the partswith the tongues l5 interlocking withthe outer edges of the side walls slits and the tongue l6 overlappingthe inner edges thereof which resists bulging or collapsing movement ofthe side walls both inwardly and outwardly and relieves the partiallysevered end portions of some of the stress that I it would be otherwisesubjected to.

3. We have not attempted to illustrate or describe the numerousembodiments or adaptations. of which our invention is capable as webelieve this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embodyor adapt our invention as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible tray or carton formed of an integral blank comprisingbottom, side and end walls hingedly connected thereto and corner flapshingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable on theouter sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, theside walls having slits opening at their end edges and extendingdiagonally outward, the slits being adapted to receive the inner edgesof the corner flaps when the box is erected, the corner flaps havingoutwardly inclined slits extending from their side edges, and verticalslits extending vertically from the inner ends of the outwardly inclinedslits providing upwardly projecting relatively short tongues engageablewith the upper edges of the slits of the side walls and deflectabledownwardly projecting relatively long tongues engageable over the sidewalls to depend on the inner sides thereof in opposition to saidoutwardly projecting tongues, said interengaging parts co acting tomaintain the side and end walls and flaps in upright position. 4

2. A collapsible carton member formed of an integral blank andcomprising a bottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto,the corner flaps being hingedly connected to the ends of the side wallsand foldable on the outer sides of the side walls when they are inerected position, the side walls having slits-opening at their end edgesand extending diagonally outward, the slits comprising intermediateportions disposed angularly to the inner portions and outer portlonsdisposed angularly to the intermediate por- V tions, the end walls andcorner flaps being of a width substantially exceeding the width of theside walls, the corner flaps having outwardly inclined slits extendingfrom their side edges and vertical slits extending from the inner endsof the diagonal slits providing tongues at the inner sides of thediagonal slits engageable with said slits in the side walls, anddefiectable elongated tongues at the outer side of said diagonal slitsoi said flaps engageable over the upper edges of the side walls wherebythe side walls and flaps coact to support each other in uprightposition.

3. A collapsible carton member formed of an integral blank andcomprising a bottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto,the corner flaps being hingedly connected to the ends of the side wallsand foldable n the outer sides of the side walls when they are inerected position, the side walls having slits opening at theirengageable over the upper edges of the side walls port each other inupright position.

4. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprisingbottom, side and end walls hingedly connected thereto and corner flapshingedly connected to the ends or the end walls and toldable on theouter sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, theside walls having slits opening at their end edges and adapted toreceive the inner edges of the corner flaps when the box is erected. thecorner flaps having outwardly inclined slits extending from their sideedges and vertical slits extending upwardly from the inner ends or theoutwardly inclined slits providing upwardly projecting tonguesengageable with the upper edges of the slits or the side walls anddeilectable downwardly projecting tongues disposed on the inner sides ofthe side walls.

5. A collapsible box member formed of an integral blank comprisingbottom, side and end walls hingedly connected thereto and corner flapshingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable on theouter sides of the side walls when they-are in erected position, theside walls having slits opening at their end edges and extendingdiagonally outward, the slits being adapted to receive the inner edgesof the corner flaps when the box is erected, the corner flaps havingupwardly projecting tongues at their side edges engageable with theupper edges of said slits of said side walls, and downwardly projectingtongues engageable over the edges 01 the side walls and depending on theinner sides thereof and acting to resist collapsing stresses.

6. A collapsible box member formed of an integral blank comprisingbottom, side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and corner flaps40 hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls end edges andextending diagonally outward, the

end walls and corner flaps being of a width substantially exceeding thewidth of the side walls, the corner flaps having outwardly inclinedslits extending from their side edges and vertical slits extending fromthe inner ends of the diagonal slits providing tongues at the innersides of the diagonal slits engageable with said slits in the sidewalls, and deflectable elongated tongues at the outer side of saiddiagonal slits of said flaps and foldable on the outer sides of the sidewalls when they are in erected position the side walls having slitsopening at their end edges and extending diagonally outward, the slitsbeing adapt-.

ed to receive the inner edges of the corner flaps when the box iserected, the comer flaps having upwardly projecting tongues at theirside edges engageable with the upper edges of said slits of said sidewalls, and downwardly projecting tongues engageable over the bottomedges of the side walls and depending on the inner sides thereof.

7. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprisingbottom, side and end walls hingedly connected thereto and corner flapshingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and ioldable on theouter sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, theside walls having slits opening at their end edges and adapted toreceive the inner edges of the corner flaps when the box is erected, thecorner flaps having upwardly projecting tongues engageable with theupper edges or the slits of the side walls and downwardly projectingtongues engageable over the edges of the side walls to depend on theinner sides thereof.

KENNETH T. BUT'I'ERY. RICHARD C. STENGER.

No references cited.

